Vauxhall VECTRA V6 ELITE
If In Doubt, Fit An Engine With Clout. That Philosophy Looks To Stand The Vectra V6 In Good Stead. Andy Enright Reports
That the latest Vectra is a huge step over its underwhelming predecessor is not up for discussion. Few would contend with the fact that its an extremely good car in its own right. But can the upspec V6 versions compete with smaller engined cars replete with four rings, blue and white roundel, three pointed stars or snarling cats?
Vauxhall certainly think so.
The V6 versions of the Vectra use the 3.2-litre engine that wed first seen in the Omega, and its a respected powerplant with more power at 214bhp than youd expect to find in what most would dismiss as a repmobile. Thing is, times change and this section of the company car market has taken something of a battering of late, many users choosing to downsize to take advantage of CO2 tax breaks. General Motors realised that to succeed the Vectra would not only have to appeal to those who had no choice, but also to those private customers who were reaching into their own pockets.
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Two very different requirements have resulted in one very competent car. No matter how good the Vectra V6 is, with prices around £22,000 it runs head on into cars like the
Audi A6, the
BMW 3 Series, the
Jaguar X-TYPE and the Mercedes C-Class. Just as the
Vauxhall VX220 suffered because practically everyone who had a choice would rather have a
Lotus Elise, so the Vectra V6 is up against it trying to scratch out some sales against these premium marques even if in some instances these rival offerings arent powerful enough to pop the top off a pot of Pringles. A carbon dioxide emissions figure of 243g/km is superb for such a large engine the Mercedes C320 emits 260g but its still enough to lump the Vectra into a hardly friendly tax banding.
"Its top speed of 155mph is exactly the same as around £90,000 worth of Mercedes SL55 AMG."
Its tough to make a case for the Vectra as a company car and few will plump for one privately. This is something of a shame as the Vectra V6 gets most things spot on, but seems to be an answer to a question few would probably ask. Its certainly quick enough to entertain, its top speed of 155mph being exactly the same as around £90,000 worth of Mercedes SL55 AMG, although the Vectra will take a little longer to get there. A sprint to 60mph in 7.
0 seconds will dust off some quite serious executive cars. The 28mpg average fuel consumption figure is reasonable, and the absence of a really powerful diesel engine in the Vectra line-up makes it difficult to grouse about the V6s thirst. Youll forgive it as soon as you explore the upper reaches of the rev range, the six-cylinder engine sounding superb. Vauxhall have worked hard to combat the usual accusation in cars of this sort, namely that they have a little too much engine for the chassis to handle.
A magnesium intake manifold helps keep weight down and anti roll bars at front and rear helps keep things tight. Unsprung weight having been taken out of the suspension setup through the use of aluminium componentry. The track has been made wider to aid stability and a whole raft of electronic back-ups have been developed in the event of the driver running out of talent. Principal amongst these is the clever ESP+ stability control system: rather than just cutting the power and adding braking when you get into trouble, it senses that more gradual remedial action may be required and acts accordingly. The electro-hydraulic power steering is also a big improvement though could still do with more feel. Where this Vectra really cant be bettered however, is in terms of ride and refinement: its the sort of car you feel you could drive all day in. The Vectra V6 is available in two trim levels, Elite (as featured here) and GSi: both are luxurious. The Elite features leather trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, ESP Plus stability control, heated front seats and electronic climate control. You also get a CD multichanger, some rather incongruous wood effect trimmings and chrome sill plates. The GSi gets a rear spoiler, sports suspension, xenon headlights revised bumpers, a stainless steel tail pipe and some sporty 17-inch alloy wheels.
The width of the Vectra platform allows a number of features to be built into the chunky centre console. It also means that the buttons dont need to be the size of pinheads, something youll appreciate when trying to adjust the controls. The only real gripes are that the plastics on the centre console arent up to those used in the rest of the cabin and the interior looks less conspicuously styled than the
Ford Mondeo. Theres a rather unusual indicator arrangement plus a number of controls on the steering wheel, itself infinitely adjustable.
Rain sensitive wipers, parking radars front and rear, tyre pressure monitors and an electronic child
seat detector that disables the airbag are features which were often previously the preserve of upmarket executive offerings. The Vectra has now followed many of its rivals in appropriating these refinements for the mainstream market. Opinions may be divided on the latest look: still recognisably a Vectra, it takes the best aspects of the chamfered
Renault Laguna and combines them with bluff, industrial planes and bold styling that is distinctly Germanic. Probably more important is what lies beneath the bodywork a structure that is 60% stiffer. The Vectra V6 does everything asked of it, but will it find favour? It certainly deserves to do well, but many will be swayed by that badge on the nose when pondering a £22,000 transaction. Ellesmere Ports finest has a tough task on its hands
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Vauxhall Vectra V6 Elite
PRICES: £21,745 - £22,745 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 243g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 155mph / 0-60mph 7.0s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 19.7mpg / (extra urban) 37.2mpg / (combined) 27.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and window airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4596/1798/1460mm [4dr]
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